The appearance of Rupert Murdoch and son before the culture select committee will likely now be remembered mostly for the actions of a very silly man with a smuggled plate of foam. Which, for Murdoch Sr, may be good news, since before that it was due to be remembered for the octogenarian press baron's resemblance to a shell-less, beached sea turtle. Or Davros. Or Emperor Palpatine. Or Statler from the Muppet Show.

In fact, Twitter was buzzing with comparisons. MrsStephenFry tweeted "James and Rupert Murdoch – first picture from the #Hackgate hearing", with a link to a shot of Simpsons baddie Mr Burns and his simpering sidekick Waylon Smithers. Others were reminded of Junior Soprano exaggerating his mental frailty for court proceedings or Father Ted's Father Jack responding to every question he was asked with: "That would be an ecumenical matter!" Murdoch Jr, meanwhile, was likened to Raiders of the Lost Ark interrogator Arnold Toht. Given how badly things could have gone, they'll probably take being compared to drunks, turtles and Nazis as a win.